The stage is set for the top scholastic prospect in the nation to endure the most memorable moment of his hockey career -- without ever stepping on the ice.

It'll likely happen during the early rounds of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., when local boy Mario Lucia of Wayzata High School hears his name called at some point.

There's a good chance the junior power-forward will become the 10th high school player from Minnesota in the last eight years to be selected in the opening round on June 24. He was the highest-rated North American high school skater on NHL Central Scouting's mid-term report in January and will probably retain that spot when the final release is made in April. Lucia was ranked 30th among all North Americans.